On 6 July 2010, at approx. 9:55 am, an officer from the Sonora Police Department attempted to make an enforcement stop on a vehicle for failing to stop for a stop sign. When the driver noticed the patrol vehicle behind him, the driver accelerated to a high rate of speed and traveled onto Stockton Road.

On Stockton Road, the driver failed to yield to the officer’s lights and siren. The driver then started passing vehicles in the center left turn lane and reached speeds above 80 MPH. When the vehicle reached Highway 108, it turned westbound and accelerated to speeds above 90 MPH. The vehicle then started passing vehicles over double solid yellow lines and almost collided with a semi truck head on.

The vehicle then pulled into a dead end private driveway, just West of Mill Villa Estates. Upon reaching the dead end, the driver jumped out of the vehicle and took off running into the heavy brush. At the time of this press release the driver was still at large. The driver has been identified as James Cotner, 45, of Ceres.

Cotner is described as being 5-10, 210, gray and brown hair, with hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing a white tank top and blue jean shorts. Cotner is on parole for residential burglary and there is an active parole warrant for his arrest.

If you should see Cotner or know of his whereabouts, contact your local law enforcement agency.